Appropriation Bill

Appropriation Bill

Legislation that authorizes the government to spend money from the public treasury for a certain purpose. For example, an appropriation bill may enable the defense ministry to fund the military's activities for the year. If the amount authorized in all appropriation bills in a year exceeds the revenue the government collects, then the government goes into deficit. In many countries, appropriation bills must originate in the lower house of the legislature.

A presidential veto of the Labor-HHS bill would leave the Congress with three choices: to attempt to override his veto; to pass a massive omnibus appropriations bill that includes Labor-HHS funding; or to reduce overall spending by $27 billion to match the President's recommended funding levels.

Congress' debate over the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill covered all appropriations bills for federal programs, including the Interior Appropriations bill that funds the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other natural resource management programs.

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